Visual assessment of voice disorders in patients with occupational dysphonia.

INTRODUCTION: In a group of persons using the voice occupationally, the frequent symptoms are hoarseness, voice fatigability and aphonia. Pathological changes in the larynx may have organic or functional character which require different methods of treatment and rehabilitation. Visualization of vibrations of the vocal folds is an essential condition for an appropriate assessment of the causes of dysphonia. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is assessment of the usefulness of a high-speed imaging (HSI) system in the diagnosis of functional and organic dysphonia of occupational character, compared with digital kymography (DKG) and digital stroboscopy (DS) with a high resolution module. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 64 patients with voice quality disorders with features of occupational dysphonia. The control group consisted of 15 patients with euphonic voice. Analysis of the voice quality parameters during phonation of the 'e' vowel was performed using HSI, DKG and stroboscopy of high resolution, by means of a digital HS camera (HRES Endocam, Richard Wolf GmbH, Knittlingen, Germany). Vocal folds vibrations were registered at the rate of 4,000 frames per second. RESULTS: HSI is the most reliable diagnostic tool giving the possibility of an analysis of the true vibrations of the vocal folds. It also enables an observation of the aperiodicity of vibrations of the vocal folds, while DS with high resolution allows diagnosis of the periodicity of the vibrations. CONCLUSIONS: HSI is particularly useful in the diagnosis of neurologically-based pathology of the voice (paralytic dysphonia) and organic dysphonia. The quickest method of diagnosing the phonatory paresis of the glottis is DKG. The advantage of both HSI and DKG is the non-invasiveness of examinations; however, their limitations are time-consuming and the high cost of equipment.

Allergic diseases: the price of civilisational progress.

Atopic disorders are a major global health problem. The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis has been increasing over the last four decades, both in the industrialized and developing countries. It seems to be related to changes in the social structure, increasing industrialization, pollution and dietary changes. Many hypotheses link the allergy epidemic to stringent hygiene, dominance of a westernized lifestyle and an accelerated pace of life. Dietary antioxidants, lipids, sodium, vitamin D seem also to be implicated. We endeavour to review the most relevant theories with a special emphasis on the hygiene, antioxidative, lipid and air pollution hypotheses. It is however important to note that none of them explains all the aspects of unprecedented rise in the prevalence of allergic disorders. A complex interplay between host's immune response, invading pathogens, diversity of environmental factors and genetic background seems to be of a particular importance. Current allergy epidemic is multifactorial and basic and epidemiologic studies are warranted to further our understanding of this phenomenon.

[Assessment of speech and linguistic disorders in patients with cochlear implant--preliminary results]. / Ocena mowy i zaburzen jezykowych u chorych z implantem slimakowym--doniesienie wstepne.

UNLABELLED: Cochlear Implant (CI) is the most advanced technical solution in the treatment of profound hearing loss and deafness in patients of all age groups. The aim of the study was to analyse the speech and linguistic disorders in adults with pre- and postlingual deafness rehabilitated with Cochlear implant (CI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 adults with pre- (I group) and postlingual (II group) deafness deriving no benefit from hearing aids participated in this study. Phonatory organ was examined by endoscopy (VLS) and stroboscopy (VLSS). Test of Auditory Perception (TSS) was conducted directly after the activation of speech processor and after rehabilitation. The logopedic assessment before and after CI was based on the examination of motoric activity of articulatory organs, type of respiration, loudness of speech and the assessment of articulation. The linguistic assessment of grammatical and lexical aspect was carried out. The prosodic elements of speech were also analysed. RESULTS: Stroboscopic examination pointed to hypofunction of larynx in patients with prelingual deafness and hyperfunction--in postlingual deafness. The values of TSS were improved after CI, especially in patients with postlingual deafness. The most severe disorders of the efficiency of articulatory organs were observed in patients with prelingual deafness before CI. In the group of prelingually deaf patients disorders of the articulation of vowels and consonants as well as the lexical and grammatical aspect of speech were improved after CI. The correctness of syntax and inflection, development of active vocabulary, improvement of prosodic elements of speech were noticed in patients with postlingual deafness after CI. CONCLUSIONS. Patients with postlingual deafness achieved better results of rehabilitation in auditory perception than prelingually deaf patients. The linguistic improvement of grammatical and lexical aspect was noticed especially in prelingually deaf patients after implantation. This group of patients achieved also the significant progress in prosodic elements of speech in comparison with the results before implantation.

[Allergic rhinitis--an epidemiological, economical and social problem of the XXI century]. / Alergiczny niezyt nosa--problem epidemiologiczny, ekonomiczny i spoleczny XXI wieku.

Exposure of nasal mucosa to various allergic and/or non-allergic stimuli might result in rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis affects 10-25% of population making it the most prevalent allergic disorder. Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis affect up to 30% and 10% of pediatric population, respectively. Prevalence of allergic rhinitis varies between studies: in Poland, Breborowicz et al. reported allergic rhinitis in 16.7% of children aged 6-7, whereas Emeryk et al. observed perennial allergic rhinitis in 3.6% and seasonal allergic rhinitis in 6.2% of 8-15 year olds. Allergic rhinitis similarly to other diseases results in direct, indirect and hidden costs. In the USA (2002) direct costs were estimated at $4.195 billions and indirect at $665 millions (total of $4.863 billions). Allergic rhinitis co-exists with multiple respiratory conditions, significantly increasing treatment costs incurred by patients' and places additional burden on public finances. It also has a detrimental effect on patients' and their families' quality of life. Allergic rhinitis--although non-life threatening--significantly worsens quality of daily life and as such should be perceived as a serious medical condition not only by patients but also by medical professionals who are in position to diagnose it and implement appropriate therapeutic interventions.

[Methods of expired nitric oxide assessment in pulmonary diseases in children]. / Metody oceny stezenia tlenku azotu w wydychanym powietrzu w chorobach ukladu oddechowego u dzieci.

Assessment of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) creates new diagnostic possibilities for evaluation of the inflammatory process especially in children, in whom not all of the contemporary methods of diagnosing respiratory tract diseases are applicable. eNO concentration can be measured in children of all age, including neonates. Direct assessment of eNO is possible with an on-line method, in which NO is directly exhaled into a chemiluminescence analyser. An off-line method is performed by exhalation into a collapsible bag of nonreacting material and analysing the collected air with appropriate analysers. eNO measurement is a non-invasive, repeatable, rapid and sensitive method, producing results even during measurement. Assessment of eNO in children may be used to quantify inflammation in asthma and other respiratory tract diseases specific for this age group. Monitoring of the therapy and response to the anti-inflammatory agents i.e. glucocorticosteroids and anti-leukotriene drugs can also be based on eNO measurement.